Review: Koko Be Good

Koko Be Good by Jen Wang is an absolutely charming, beautiful book. The story it tells is simple and a bit cliche, but the characters are well crafted and have real depth and a healthy internal life. I think the negative reviews about the storytelling are a bit unjustified and sound mostly to be coming from people who do not read a lot of manga or graphic novels. Yes, the characters are stock - feral, loose cannon girl; introverted teenage boy; directionless twenty-something. But the dialogue and philosophical core of this book have a real honesty about them. Yes, some of the dialogue sounds trite - just enough that I can imagine the words coming out of the mouth of a recent college grad without a clue as to what they want to do with their life now that actual action is required.

Koko is a riot, struggling to "be good" because she ought to be, but dealing with a philosophical question that has always plagued me - if you have to try to be something, if it's against your true nature, then isn't it wrong for you? The character of Jon is uncertain about his choice to follow his girlfriend to Peru, so his moments are overflowing with doubt and trepidation. He struggles with questions of happiness and value, and whether or not pursuing his musical ambitions is a worthwhile contribution to the world. And then there is Faron, the youngest and as introverted as Koko is outgoing. He seems to be powerless in his own life, until he takes unexpected action and is punished for it. All three are trying to figure out who they are and what to do with themselves and are struggling with these questions in different ways. The emotional core of this story is very dear to me, and I believe Wang does a fantastic job at capturing the essence of these types of questions and the young adults who ask them. It was the character of Faron that I enjoyed the most - the quiet, overlooked boy who teaches himself martial arts and loves musical theater. I think the real message in the book is that as hard as Koko tries to "be good" by society's standards, she has already found her way of being good in her own way - by being a friend to Farun and offering him freedom and companionship.

The story aside, it's the art that truly steals the show. It's just plain gorgeous. The sketched style and gorgeous muted colors make for a really striking volume. Wang also succeeds in capturing scenes as well as the characters, focusing on small details at times which really enhance the overall effect of the artwork. Additionally, I think it complements the subject matter quite well. The images are not firm and defined, and neither are the characters. They are soft around the edges and not fully formed. And my favorite chapter, the one focusing solely on Farun, is done in a different style - more simplistic and childlike. I feel as though this really represents him well as the least emotionally advanced of the characters. It's as though he's suffering through the same type of existential crisis, but with fewer tools and life experiences to help him navigate through it. The art reflects this more simplistic view of himself and the world.